Lead Me

The last couple of weeks I have found myself listening to a Christian radio station on the way to work. The song “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real has been coming on and getting my attention. The song is wonderful! I wanted to look up the lyrics and found the Sanctus Real website. On the website I found two beautiful prayers that were inspired by the song. One prayer is for husbands, the other is for wives. I love these prayers. The theme: We need God to lead us in order to do what He has called us to do. We need God to lead us in our marriages, in our relationships, in our jobs, in our parenting, and any other calling we may have. The most thought provoking part of this song and these prayers is that they speak of marriage not as union but as a calling. I love that. I love that for many reasons. A calling from God. That is huge. That is a lot of responsibility. That is a lot of faith. But are we as humans capable of such a responsibility? With Him, yes. Without him, no…not a chance.

Here are the prayers inspired by the song, “Lead Me.”

A Wife’s Prayer

Heavenly Father,
You have called me to honor and serve my husband in grace, humility and love, and yet I so often let worry, insecurity, and fear overshadow that calling. Unburden my heart from worry and expectations. Teach me to relinquish control of my life and marriage to you, for only you are strong enough to carry and sustain it.

Lead me to a place of deep trust and intimacy with you, so that I would seek no fulfillment elsewhere, but would bring to my relationship with my husband a rich overflow of confidence and strength, making our home and marriage a peaceful, restful haven. Show me how to best love my husband, supporting and respecting him, praying for and trusting the work of your Spirit in his heart and life.

Give me the wisdom to value what is eternal, so that I might be truly content with my present circumstances, and not be fretful or anxious over family decisions or finances. Teach me to be beautiful as you define beauty. Let me be a creative and enjoyable friend and companion for my husband, gracious and kind, gentle in disagreement and quick to forgive.
Only as you lead me will I become the woman and wife that my husband needs. So lead me O’ Lord. Amen

A Husband’s Prayer

Christ Jesus,

You have called me to love my wife tenderly and sacrificially, even as you love the church, but too often I know myself to be a selfish man with a distracted heart. Please give me patience, gentleness, and kindness toward my wife, and the wisdom to value her for her gifts and ideas.
Teach me to be vulnerable with her, openly sharing my own heart and thoughts, hopes and fears, even as I seek to better understand hers. Remind me to be ever mindful of her interests and needs with each decision I make and to structure my life in such a way that she receives the best of my energy and attention rather than the leftovers.

Give me the courage to passionately pursue relationship with her even when I feel wronged or wounded. Let me become for her a man of tenderness, kindness, creativity, and integrity, protecting and cherishing her by vigilantly guarding my own eyes and heart. Above all, teach me to lead as you led, Jesus in humility and service. Only by your grace can I be a godly man and a good husband for my wife. Lead me Lord, I pray. Amen